block out
phrasal verb
blocked out; blocking out; blocks out
1
: to hide or cover something so that it cannot be seen, felt, or heard
Clouds blocked out the sun.
We put on music to block out the sound of the traffic.
2
: to force oneself not to think about (something)
He tried to block the event out.
3
: to ignore (something)
blocking out distractions
see also block entry 2 sense 2
Examples of block out in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Start by laying sheets of cardboard on the ground, overlapping the edges to block out sunlight from reaching weed seeds.
—
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
If chats scatter your focus, consider putting on headphones to block out distractions for a while.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
With over 45,000 stellar customer reviews to their credit, these curtains are beloved for their ability to completely block out light, affordable price point, and high-quality fabric.
—Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
Tune into your favorite podcast while blocking out background noise with the help of these JBL Vibe Beam 2 Bluetooth Noise-canceling Earbuds, marked down to $45.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for block out
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2026
If chats scatter your focus, consider putting on headphones to block out distractions for a while.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
With over 45,000 stellar customer reviews to their credit, these curtains are beloved for their ability to completely block out light, affordable price point, and high-quality fabric.
—Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026
Tune into your favorite podcast while blocking out background noise with the help of these JBL Vibe Beam 2 Bluetooth Noise-canceling Earbuds, marked down to $45.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for block out
Cite this Entry
“Block out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/block%20out. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
